Loading machine



.lune Z, 1925.

R. P. GREENLEAF LOADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1June 2, 1925. 1,540,327

R. P. GREENLEAF LOADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2abbina, 3.

.lune 2. 1925- 1,540,327

R. P. GREENLEAF LOADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3:mmnii June 2, 1925- 1,540,327

R. P. GREENLEAF LOADING MAQHINE Filed dan. 23, 1924 5 sheets-sheet 4June 2. 1925- 1,540,327

- R. P. GREENLEAF LOADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5lil Patented june 2, 1925.

UNlTEiB STATES PATENT ROBERT P. GREENLEAF. OE' SHAKER HEIGHTS. OHIO.ASSIGOR TO FRANK BILLINGS, 0F CLEVELAND, vChl-IIC.

LOADING Iv'ACI-IINE.

Application filed January 23, 1924.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

'lie it known that l, Ronnnfr Pv. GBERNLHAF, a 'citizen of the llnitedStates, residing at r`hallar Heights, in the county of Cuyahoga andState ot Ohio, have invented l:1` certain new and useful Improvement inLoading Machines, o? which the following is a full, clear., and exactdescription.

This invention relates to a loading machine oi' the general type havinga {lie-ring member supported on a superstructu which can be revolved toswing the loaded dippei' or shovel for discharging the material intocars or 'the like located either at the side or the rrear et themachine.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an efficient loadingmachine of this type, and one which can be easily and convenientlyoperated either in a vnarrow space such as a mine drilt or tunnel, or'for ordinary out-of-door excavating work.

i further and more specific object is to provide improved means forsupporting and operating` the digging member, it being a feature ot theApresent machine that the superstructure can be revolved with 'thedigging member at dumping height and yextended laterally from themachine for use in the open or in a wide enclosed space, or compactlyfolded in over 'the machine to permit the superstructure to be revolvedin a narrow space.

A still further object is to provide power mechanism tor operating thedigging member and tor revolving the superstructure of the machine andfor propelling the machine over the ground, such that the features ofsimplicityv of construction and ease ot' control realized to a highdegree.

The invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain noveldetails of minstruction. and combinations and arrangements of partswhich will be described in the syiecification and pointed vout in theappended claims.

In the accompanying sheets ot drawings illustrating the invention, Fig.1 is a side riew ot the machine with the clipper shown in full linesswung in over the 'machine substantially within the connes of theoutline of thc superstructure frame and showing` by dotted lines theclipper and its supporting arms in various positions; F ig. 2 is an endview looking toward the left Serial No. 687.897.

of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view with the cover removed, which normallyhouses the operating mechanism; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional viewthro-ugh the superstructure substantially along 't'h'e line 'of Fig. 13,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 5 isf'atransverse sectional View through the superstructure and truck,substaifiltially along the line 5-55 of Fig. 3, looking in the directionindicated by the arrows; Fig. 6 vis a vertical sectional View throughthe A`supferstfructure Yand truck, with lparts in elevation,substz'intial-l'y 'along the the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, llooking lin thedirection 4ii'idicated by the arrows; Fig. 7 is Aa view partly insection and partly 'in side elevation showiii'g the turn-'table supportand part of the mechanism utilized zfor causing the operating motor torevolve Vthe 'si'iperstructure, or for pronel'ling the machine as awhole over the ground; and Fig. 8 is a partial plan view of the same,omitting, however, the turn-table.

The supelstructure of the machine includes a rotary trame or'tiirnetable10 'and a truck designed 'to travel over the ground, which truck in thisinstance includes a frame 11 equipped with ground engag'i'ng members 12of the caterpillar or endless belt type, though 'the truck iframe may,if desired, be equipped 'with ordinary ground or track wheels. The frameof the truck carries a 'turn-table ring 13 on which Ethe tuin-table.rand, in fact, the entire 'superstructure is supported through the mediumof an annular Series of rollers 14, the 'superstructure being `designedto turn about the axis of a 4short vertical shaft 15 (see Figs. '5 and6) which extend down from the turn- 'table centrally through the fixedturn-table ring 13. The turn-table includes in addition "to the base orbottom portion, a pair of upwardly extending side housings 11C)a 'whichtogether with a cover 16 'enclose the operating mechanism. n

The digging 'member consists 'of a shovel 'or Clipper 17, with aswinging bottom 18, normally held closed by a latch 19(L 'which can bepulled with a 'cord or rcable so as to release the bottom and permit theYweight of the material to swing 'the bottom downwardly and rearwardlyfior dumping. The bottom is designed 'to 'be l'atched automatically inthe well-known way.

Afull lines, retracted position.

The dipper has attached to it a pair of dipper arms 19 which are pivotedat 20 to the outer ends of a pair of dipper swinging arms 21, whoseinner ends are secured to the end of a shaft 22 suitably journale'd inthe forward portions of the side housings 10a of the turn-table. Thedipper arms may be swung independently of the arms 21, and to accomplishthis they are provided with ei;- tensions 23 extending inwardly orrearwardly beyond the pivots 20, these extensions being provided withgrooved peripheral Aportions shaped to a suitable curve which may or maynot be arc-shaped and adapted to receive cables 24 arranged to be woundonto and unwound from a pair of drums 25 located at the outer sides ofthe housings 10a and secured to a drum shaft 26 also journaled in thehousings 10a a distance to therear of shaft 22, to which are attachedthe dipper swinging arms 21. It is an important feature of thisconstruction that the power is applied to swing the arms 21 and to swingthe arms 19 from two separate shafts whose axes are displacet, as shownin the drawings, and there is a relation between the spacing shafts 22and 2G and the radius of the grooved dipper arm eX- tensions 23, thisrelation being such that there is substantially a parallelogramarrangement between arms 21 and the cables 24, which is important in theoperation of the machine, particularly when the elevated dipper is beingswung from extended position to retracted position or vice versa.

It might be here stated that in Fig. 1,

' position A may be assumed to be the position of the dip-per at thebeginning of the digging movement; position B at the end of the diggingmovement; position C elevated dumping position with the dipper extended;.and position D, which shows the dipper in If the machine is being usedin an open space or in a wide confined space, the turn-table may berevolved with the dipper in position C, but if it is operating in anarrow space, as in a lnine drift or tunnel, the dipper will be swungback to position D before the superstructure is revolved, and then thedipper may be extended to dump the contents in a car or receptacle atthe rear of the machine.

Vhen in position C the dipper may dump at the side as well as at therear. The apof the drums it would be necessary to rotate the drums aswell as the arms to keep the dipper in the desired position to retainthe material therein in swinging the dipper from one position to theother. lt is not essential that he portions of the cables eX- tending beWeen the drums and the dipper arm este ns 23 be parallel with the arms21. in all positions of the latter, for a slight deviation, sach as inthe present machine, from a true parallelogram arrangement of the partsdoes not cause a material change in the inclination of the dipper inmoving it from position C to position D, or from D to Power for swingingthe arms 21, for swinging' the arms 19, for turning the superstructureand for propelling the machine over the ground is in this case derivedfrom a single motor 27, which may be of any suitable type. This motor isin this instance supported on cross members 28 (see Fig. extendingbetween the side housings 1Ga and at the forward end of its rotary shaftit provided with a pinion 29 engaging a relatively large gear 3() on ashortshaft 31, which shaft is provided also with a sprocket wheel 32 anda bevel pinion 33.

lflorwardly of the motor and above shaft 3l, are two shafts 34 and 35,the former being utilized to swing the arms 21 and the latter to turnthe superstructure and also to propel the machine. The shaft 34 isprovided with a gear 36, which engages the large gear and is driven byit. This shaft is in alignment with a shaft 37 provided with a worm 38engaging a worm wheel segment 39 secured to cross shaft 22, whichoperates the swinging arms. The shaft 34 is adapted to drive the wormshaft 37 either direct or through a reversing gear, and in this instancea common form of reversing gear is shown in Fig. 4. This includes a drum40 adapted to be held stationary by a brake band 41 (see Figs. 4 and 5)or to be clutched to the shaft by a movable clutch member 42, this drumhaving studs carrying pinions 43 engaging an internal gear 44 carried bythe shaft. 37 and also engaging a pinion 45 keyed to the shaft 34. Vhcnthe drum 40 is clutched to the shaft 34, the pinions 43 do not rotate ontheir' respective axes, hence the whole rcversing gear rotates as aunit, and the shaft 34 drives the shaft 3.7 direct. On the other hand,when the drum is unclutched from the shaft and is held stationary by thebrake band 4l, the shaft 34 drives the shaft 37 in the reverse directionand at a reduced speed through the pinion 45, pinions 43, and internalgear 44. This mechanisn'i, controllable by the operator when occupyingthe operators station or seat 4G, thereby provides for the swingingmovements of arms 2l in both directions.

lPhe drum shaft Q6 is required to be di'iven by power' in one direct iononly. This is provided by the following mechzfinism: The bevel gear 3Son the short loafer shaft 3l engages a relatively larg/re bevel rear i7which is normally loose on the dri'm -shaft 2G, but is adapted to beclutched thereto by a movable clutch member 4S. This provides forrotation of the drum shaft to v, End in the cables 24, to swing thediivgffi arms outwardly. The latter are swam; inwardly by gravity whichrequires the pay'ng' out of the cables 24. This paying' ont of thecables is controlled by the operator by the followingr mechanism: Keyedoi otherwise secured to the drum shaft 2t? is a ratchet wheel 49 (seeFigs. i and which when the cables are being wound in. rides' freelyunder pawls 50 carried b v a drum 3l adapted to rotate on an extensionof the bearing for shaft 26, the drum being' normally held from rotationby a brake hand 5227 (seo particularly Fig. et) which bralte baud can beloosened or released from the drum by a suitable operatinpq number Si',iwuiti'oiliiilc by the operator when occupying' his seat lVhen the brakeband is tie'ht on the drum the drum shaft is held against reverserotation, but when the bralfe baud is reieafed, the cables can pay out:1 rate controllable by the operator. This mechanism therefore providesfor inward movement of the dipper ai'ms and for swi' jing the arms` outunder power for a filling stroke as in mov ing' the dipper from positionto position l, or from position B up vardly. iVhile the dipper is beingfilled by thus swinging.r the dippei' arms 19. the swinggfing` arms 2tcan be heldl stationary. or they can be raised and lowered as desired.with the result that the dipper can be swung; through an arc of a circlein filling', or it can be given a substantially horizontal fillingmovement. or a combination of these movements.

As previouslyY stated. the shaft 535 is utilized to swing` theturn-table in either direction. To accomplish this. this shaft isprovided witli two bevel `gears 54. each of which is adapted to beclutched to the shaft by a movable clutch member These bevel gearsengage a bevel fear 5G on a vertical shaft 57 suitably supported inbearings on the turn-table. this shaft being' provided at its lowei' endwith a pinion engaging rear 59, which is just beneath the turntable baseand surrounds the shaft l5 about which the turn-table is adapted to turn(see particularly Fig'. 6). Obviously it rear 59 is held from rotation.the turn-table. and. in fact. the entire superstructure will rotateabout the axis of the shaft l5. when the pinion is rotated. thedirection of rotation depending. of course, upon the direction of rotation of shaft 5T and pinion 58.

This mechanism therefore provides for the rotation ot' thesuperstrueture to permit over the ground, and to do this the folio'wineradditional mechanism provided. gear 5f) is held stationary oniy wher hef f; perstructure to be rotated, but is mso inA tended to be rotated andto transmit power to the driving shaft for the endless belie-r (tear 59is therefore provided on its lower side with a bevel gear titl whichmeshes with a bevel gear (ii keyed to a horizon'ai shaft 62 carried bythe trucl; frame il. this hat' having at its rear end a The bevel geartn; en4 gagging a bevel gear tti (see Fig. which bevel gear is on ashaft which is adapted to be clutched to and unclutehed from tl Y rearor drivin;T sprockets (S3 in the well--hnowii manner.

Additionally i provide means for holding1 the gear 59 against rotationas i-.wi superstructure is to be rotated. and or re leasing the gearthat i'. may rotate ende.' the action ot' the pinion .t to propel theina chine. This is preferabiy in the forni of laterally movable latchGti (see Figs. l. i2. 7 and 8) which latch engages guides titi (see Fig.and provided at its inner end with an inclined locking tooth t?. adaptedto be moved inward between any tivo adjacent teeth of bevel gear (tti.yiliis latch is supported by the truck frame. and when retracted, itreceives between two i'irolieetions (i8 the end of a pawl G9 carried bythe turntable. and thus holds the superstructure from rotation. That tosay. when the latch is in its innermost position it holds the gears 59and t() against rotation to lpermit the superstructure to be revolved.and when the latch is retracted, the nears are released so that they mayrotate ant. thus transmit power to the running' fear or propelling'mechanism of the triiclt. and when it is pulled outward or retracted. itreceives the pawl (i9 which locks the superstructure against rotation.

All essential movements of the machine are controlled by the operator.when occupying the seat or station siti. through hand levers TO,indicated in Fig. By these instrumentalities the shaft and the swingingyarms Q1 can be rocked in either direction. the drum shaft Q6 can berotated uudei' power to swing the dippei' and dipper arms in onedirection. and it can be released by movement of the bralc bandcontrolling' the drum 51 to permit the rotation in the reversedirection. the superstructure can be rotated in either direction. andthe brake band il controllinfs/F the reversinir rear for shaft Q2 can beactuated. Additionally. of courselpthe same levers which fr'ontrol Stherotation l' d of the turntai'ie i' c to control the forward and rearpropulsion of lili) the machine as a whole over the ground. the hitch(to being moved in and ont to peratit the motor to perform eitherfunction.

Assuming that the dipper is in position A, to till the dipper the drumshaft is rotated to wind in the cables :il so as to swing the dipperforwardly or forwardly' and npwardly, the arms 2l beino at the same timemoved downward if a practically horizontal filling motion ofthe dipperis desired. After the dipper is filled it is swung` to sub stantiallyposition C by rotating the arms 21, and to some extent also, the dipperarms. lf the macliine is operating in a wide space. the superstructurecan be rotated with the dipper extended, but if the machine is wort:-ing in a narrow space, the dipper will be retracted to substantiallyposition D, and this is done, as already explained. ithout the necessityof the drum shaft rotating in either direction. Then after the rotationet' the siiperstructure. the dipper wfli iin extended and dumped. thisbeing i` overl by reversal of the movements explained.

The dipper has a considerable reach, and the material can be gathered upcleanly over considerable space to the sidesl as weil as in front of themachine. rddit ionaliy tfe niachine is easily controlled, und theeenstruction which permits of a single motor performing all thenecessary functions or movements is au iifiportant Liiires itt theinvention.

Having described my in-vention, l claim:

l. In a loading machine, a traveling base, a revoluble superstructuremounted thereon, digging mechanism carried by the superstructurecomprising a digging member, an arm attached thereto, a second armconnected to the tirst named arin and supported for swinging movement ona part of the superstructure, a power operated device for swinging thesecond mentioned swinging arm, a second power operated device, and meansconnecting it to the tirst named arm, the connecting means beingdisplaced from and having a substantially parallel relation with thesecond mentioned arm, whereby said elements have substantially thefunction of two opposite members of a parallelograi' of forces during aportion of the cycle of movement of the digging mechanism.

2. In a loading machine, a traveling base, a superstructure mountedthereon and coinprising a turn-table and digging mechanism including adipper having a dipper arm connected therewith, a dipper swinging armmounted on the turn-table for movement about a given axis, a drinnrotatable about a different axis and having a cable connec tion with thedipper arm, and separately controlled power devices for operating thedipper swinging arm and drum.

3. In a loading machine, a traveling base, a revoluble superstructuremounted thereon including a turustable and a digging member in the forniof a dipper with u dipper arm attached thereto, zi dipper swingiimj armmounted for rotary movement ou the turn-table about a given axis, adrinn shaft mounted for rotary inoveni-ent about an axis displaced fromthe first named axis and proA vided with a drinn having a cableconnection with an extension of the dipper arm, and separatelycontrolled power devices for tornino said dipper swinging arm and forrotating said shaft.

if. ln a loadingl machine, a tii'aveling base carrying a revoliiblesuperstructure comprising a turn-table and a digging member in the formof a dipper having an arin attached thereto, a dipper swinging armrotaably supported by the turn-table and pivotally connected to thedipper arm between its ends, a drum supported by the turn-table andhaving a cable connection with the inner end of the dipper arm, andseparately controlled power devices for turninor said dipper1 swingingarm and for rotating the drinn.

Y. In a loading machine, a traveling base carrying a revolublesuperstructure comprising a turn-table and a digging member in the formof a dipper having an arm attached thereto, a dipper swingingI armrotatably supported by the turn-table and pivotally connected to thedipper arm, a druin supported by the turn-table and having a cableconnection with the dipper arm, power operated means for rotating thedipper swinging arm in opposite directions, and tower operatril meansfor rotating the drum in ine direction.

t3. ln a loading machine, a traveling base, a revolnlile superstructuren'iounted thereon and comprising a turn-table and a digging dipper, apair of parallel shafts arried by lie turn-table, an arm on one of saidshafts, a drinn on the second shaft, a second arin conne ted to thedigging member and pivotally connected to the outer end of said firstnamed arnn and a cable between the drum and the dipper arin having asubstantir-,llyv parallel relation with the first ntioned arm.

In a loading machin.y a traveling base, a revoliible superstructuremounted thereon and coiniirisingl a turntable and a digging dipper, apair of parallel shafts carried b v the turn-table, an arm on one ofsaid shafts, a drinn on the second shaft, a second arm connected to thedigging member and pivotally connected to the outer end of said firstnamed arm, and a cable between the drinn and the second arm, and a motorwith connections for rotating one shaft in both directions and the othershaft in one direc-- tion.

8. ln a loading machine, a traveling base, a revoluble superstructuremounted thereon and comprising a turn-table and a digging' ltltl llt)dipper, a pair of parallel shafts carried by the turn-tal'ile, a dipperswinging arm on one ot said shafts, a drum on the other shaft.y a dipperarm connected to the dipper and pivotall)v connected to the first namedarm, a cable between the drum and the dipper arm, a motor withonnections for rotating one shaft in both directions and the other shaftin one direction and means for permitting a controlled rotation ot'v thelast mentioned shat't in the reverse direction.

il. In a loading machine, a traveling base` a revoluble superstructiu'etaereou comprising a turn-table and digging mechanism including a dipperwith a dipper arm and a dipper swinging arm supported b v thelturn-table and connected to the dipper arm, and a power operated shaftconnected to the dipper swinjgfing arm through a reversing gear whichpermits the power operated shaft while rotating in the same direction toswing said arm in both directions.

10. In a loading machine, a traveling base, a revoluble superstructuremounted thereon including a turn-table having a digging mechanismincluding a dipper with a dipper arm and a dipper swinging arm mountedfor swinging movement on the turn-table and pivotally connected to thedipper arm7 power means for actuating the swinging arm, a drum shafthaving a cable connection with the clipper arm, a power operated shaftfor rotating the drum in one direction and adapted to be clutched to andunclutched from said drum shaft, and means including a brake device forholding the drum shaft against rotation when the clutch is disengagedand for permitting a controlled rotation in the reverse direction.

1l. In a loading machine, a traveling base, a revoluble superstructuremounted thereon, including a turn-table, a digging member, inner andouter arm connected together and connected to the turn-table and diggingmembers for supporting and operating the latter. means for swinging theinner arm and means for swinging the outer arm comprising a drum shafton the turntable having a cable connection with the outer arm, powermeans adapted to be clutched to and unclutched from the drum shaft i'orrotating the latter in one direction. and co-operating members whichpermit rotation ot' the drum shaft in one direction and normali)vprevent rotation in the reverse direction but permit a controlledrotation in the last mentioned direction.

1Q. In a loading machine, a traveling base, a revoluble superstructuremounted thereonl` including a turn-table, a digging member, inner andouter arms connected together and connected to the turn-table anddigging members for supporting and operating the latter, means forswinging the inner arm and means for swinging the outer arm comprising adrum shaft on the turn-table having a cable connection with the outerarm, power means adapted to be clutched to and unclutched from the drumshaft for rotating the latter in one direction, and means for holdingthe drum shaft against rotation when unclutched from the power means andfor permitting a controlled rotation in the reverse direction comprisingtwo co-operating members, one secured to the drum shaft and free torotate with respect to the other in one direction, and the othernormall)v stationary and adapted to rotate to permit the rotation in thereverse direction.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto atlix my signature.

ROBERT P. GREENLEAF.

